Solar lanterns can help rural households cut on fuel charges

New Delhi, Apr 29:Use of solar lanterns can help rural households save upto Rs 12,000 in kerosene and electricity charges and improve living conditions, according to a study by two Taiwanese researchers in Gujarat.
Professor Govindasamy Agoramoorthy from Tajen University and Dr Minna Hsu from the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan studied the effects of 100 solar lanterns supplied by an NGO in 25 villages in Dahod district of Gujarat between January 2004 and December 2007.

The study found that on an average each household saved between Rs 7,531 and Rs 12,556 annually on kerosene and electricity after the solar lanterns were introduced and households below the poverty line significantly cut down on their electricity use.

The researchers also found that solar lanterns particularly benefited school going children and women.

The lanterns provided six hours of light which meant study hours increased improving children's performance at school. Women were also able to perform their routine household work both indoors and outdoors during power cuts. PTI